LUCERNE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16491, 8 November 1927, Page 4

LUCERNE

SEASON FOR ESTABLISH. I MENT IMPORTANT POINTS Lucerne is a crop that dues nut. lack advocates. Vuv quality and quantity of feeil it probably is without peer in the realm of fodder-crops. The area grown in tins province is slowly increasing, but every season there are sufficient failures to serve as a reminder that the establishment and maintenance of lucerne is by no means as easy under our conditions as the cultivation of rootcrops or pasture. This difficulty is not due so much to any peculiarity of our soils as to the climatic conditions. The Auckland province is blessed with a high rainfall, and lucerne is a dry-land plant. Our fanning experience too is acquired under humid conditions, which greatly simplify the production of grass, hut tend to make the farmer careless in his arable cultivation. No one should attempt the cultivation of lucerne who is not prepared to do the job thoroughly; this means labor available at the right times, and an adequate set of implements. Lucerne is for the estblislied farmer working on more or less intensive lines rather than the man who is breaking in land on a small margin of capital. The two greatest obstacles to successful lucerne-growing are a cold, wet, clay (sub-soil, and the prevalence of quitch or "couch." Where either of these is met with it is better to devote the time and money that would be required for lucerne on tho improvement of permanent pastures and the cultivation of annual crops. Lucerne cannot stand wet feet; neither does it like company. Even where the land is suitable the life of a lucerne-stand depends very much upon tho start it has in the race with weeds. PREPARING THE LAND Land intended for sowing to lucerne this season should have been in fallow tor some time, so that the soil may be sweetened by the sun and the texture mellowed by tho weather. Early ploughing also means that an opportunity is afforded for ■ the destruction of weeds that would otherwise spring up with tho crop. For the last few weeks cultivation should be confined to the surface, so that the weeds there are destroyed and no fresh seeds turned up. Just before drilling a roller should be used, so that a level surface is obtained and the seed placed at au even depth. Drilling should bo carried out in November in the north, but may bo deferred till December in the southern parts of the province. It is better to bo late than to put the seed in a cold web seed-bed where germination will be slow and weeds will get ahead. Drilling is usually better than broadcasting, but the latter is .sometimes successful if a good tilth is obtained. Every coulter should be used, and it is necessary to sow shallow. Half an inch is almost too deep, another reason why the seed-bed should be fine, iirm and level; the coulters must run evenly, and there should be no need to force them in order to cut through clods or rubbish. Manure should always be sown with the seed in order to bring the crop away quickly. For this purpose 3cwt. basic super and Jlcwt. sulphate of potash are excellent; 44/46 super and kainit are liable to injure- the germinating seed. The mixing of seed and manure should be done very carefully so that an even strike may be obtained. Efteen pounds of seed per acre is usually sufficient, though rather more may be used if conditions are not quit© perfect. Both Marlborough and Hunter .River strains do well in the Auckland province; they are in most respects similar, and so far no variety has been found to replace them. INOCULATION Of late years an increasing amount of attention has been paid by agricultural scientists to bacteriology, a science that solves many soil-problems that chemistry is unable to cope with. It is possible that some day wa may find it profitable to inoculate each crop with the bacteria it requires for healthy life. Lucerne is a crop that is particularly dependent on the bacteria associated with it and found upon its roots. So that it is fortunate that scientists have been able to isolate, study and cultivate these minute but essential organisms. The old-fashioned but quite effective method of inoculating a new luceruo paddock is to bring about a forced migration of bacteria from a stand that is already well established; 6 cwt. per acre of soil from a clean, healthy staud are broadcasted before drilling and lightly harrowed in. There are two important points to remember in connection with this practice. First, there is a grave danger of introducing either weed-seeds or disease, so that it is most important that the site from which the soil is taken should be carefully selected. Second, the soil must not be allowed to dry out in transit; it should be transferred without loss of time and harrowed in in the cool of the evening or on a showery day. Lengthy exposure to sunlight will seriously weal-en tho bacteria. Sometimes a smaller quantity of soil is used and. run through the drill with tho seed and manure; apparently this also gives quite good results. Those who are unable to procure good inoculated soil should obtain a "culture" or concentrated colony of bacteria; there is at least one culture on tho market that gives good results. This method is now used very extensively in the States, and is more reliable and satisfactory in many ways than the transfer of soil. But inoculation the soil must have, unless lucerne has been grown in the paddock within the past four years. New lucerne-stands should on no account be grazed during the first 18 months, as there is a great risk of. damaging tho crowns of the young plants. If weeds show signs of beating the crop and going to seed, the mower "should be used; there is no need to remove the cutting, which may be left as a mulch to conserve moisture and shelter tho young crop.—Auddand Star.